Florida Woman Pries Open Alligator's Jaws To Save Her Dog

April 5, 2025

Today's good news story comes from Tampa, Florida.

For one Florida woman, a walk near the water turned into a terrifying moment—but also a powerful display of love and bravery.

Kim and Kona | Fox 13 News / YouTube

Kim Spencer and her dog, Kona, were near a lake by their home when the unthinkable happened. In a split second, a 6-foot-6 alligator lunged from the water and clamped its jaws around Kona's head.

"She’s facing it, it's facing her, and it jumped out and got her. She was in up to here; her whole head was inside its mouth," Spencer recalled. "I stopped thinking and just dove on it, jumped on it and straddled it, as lady-like as that is, and was trying to pry its jaws open."

Against the odds, Spencer managed to wrestle with the massive reptile and open its jaws from behind. Her quick thinking and fearless reaction freed Kona from the gator’s grip.

"I saw the eyes. I saw it turning itself around towards us, and I started pulling Kona away, saying, 'Let's go.’ But she’s a really strong dog," Spencer said.

Both Kim and Kona were injured and required stitches, but they’re now recovering—physically and emotionally. And thanks to Kim’s courage, Kona is home safe.

“We just got lucky because just as quickly as it ran after us, it ran back into the water, and we were out of there,” she added.

Watch the interview with Kim below: